Locals force rethink on gas generator (From Gazette & Herald)

Locals force rethink on gas generator

OPPOSITION has forced a waste company to change plans for an electricity generator at a Ryedale tip.

Thornton-le-Dale residents urged Yorkwaste to rethink its plans for its Caulklands landfill site.

The company intends to generate electricity using methane emission from rubbish dumped on the site.

But villagers forced the proposals to be put on hold after concerns that the generator would create noise and pollution.

Yorwaste has now agreed to submit new plans, moving it farther away from homes.

A company spokesman said: "Yorwaste had managed to allay fears over noise and emissions after bringing in specialists to investigate these concerns, but it has now taken a further step by agreeing to submit a new planning application which will take the facility as far away from residents' homes as possible.

"The new planning application, which will be submitted to the North York Moors National Park Authority shortly, would see the facility being located in the far north-east corner of the Caulklands site."

The decision is a direct result of public concerns.

Jenny Morris, Yorwaste's technical manager and environmental representative, said: "After taking on board the views of local residents, we had another look at our proposal and decided it would be in everyone's interests to move the proposed electricity generating facility farther away from the village.

"The costs involved in the relocation are significant and we shall be exploring ways of keeping the extra costs to a minimum. We know the villagers understand the benefits of the scheme and we hope this new planning application will ease any remaining concerns they may have."

Thornton-le-Dale parish council chairman Wilf Garbutt said: "The new proposals which they have put forward to us do quieten our fears, but this now means the planning process has to start all over again.

"It might be months before they even put in the new application, so we will be waiting a long while for the decision, it all has to go back into the melting pot and who knows what might happen?

"But we are pleased that they have taken notice of what has been said and we are hopeful the final plans will suit everybody."

County Coun Murray Naylor said: "I am delighted that the long-running issue of where the generator should be sited has been finally agreed at the place where the local community wanted it."

He praised Yorwaste for agreeing to make the change, adding: "But I'm sorry it has taken so long."

Coun Naylor said the parish council and the action group had done a good job in spearheading the calls for action to bring about the change in heart.

Updated: 14:46 Wednesday, March 26, 2003